Not long ago, virtual fencing felt like a “maybe someday” idea. Today, ranchers are using it in some of the toughest country out there.

Virtual fencing isn’t exactly a new conversation anymore, but how and where it’s being used continues to evolve.

In this episode, we head off the prairie and into a forest allotment in western Montana. With rugged terrain, wildlife pressure, and little to no traditional fence, this is a real-world look at how the technology performs when things get complicated.

Host Haylie Shipp is joined by Jim Felton of Felton Angus Ranch and Grace Inglee with Vence to walk through how virtual fencing works, how it’s being used on forest allotments, and what ranchers are learning along the way.

In This Episode

• What virtual fencing is and how it works
• How it performs on forest allotments vs open prairie
• Managing cattle in rough terrain without traditional fence
• Time savings, labor considerations, and adoption
• Lessons learned from real-world use

Resources

Previous episode:
An Unfiltered Rancher Response to Virtual Fencing
https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2166701/episodes/16149902-an-unfiltered-rancher-response-to-virtual-fencing

Upcoming events:
https://ranchstewards.org/events

Why This Matters

At the Ranch Stewards Podcast, we focus on the intersection of ranching, conservation, and community.

This episode brings all three together and highlights how tools like virtual fencing can help producers manage land more effectively while staying connected to the landscapes and people that matter most.

This podcast is brought to you in part by Vence.
Learn more: https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/hub/vence/

Support the show

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.

For more on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, head to www.RanchStewards.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Your feedback is always welcome. Email info@ranchstewards.org. Want to support our mission? Visit www.ranchstewards.org/support.